Aspen’s values include being supportive of one’s community and respecting and protecting the environment.

Community Support

Aspen Properties believes that governments, businesses and individuals share responsibility for supporting those charitable and non-profit organizations that enrich the lives of Canadians and thus supports a corporate charitable contributions program to address the needs of these organizations.

Investing in such organizations leads to healthy, thriving communities that are desirable places in which to work, live and do business.

Program guidelines, which include community, health and the needs of children, help ensure Company contributions are put to efficient, effective use.

Donation requests are approved by an employee based Committee reffered to as the "Community Impact Team".

Employee personal charitable donations to a limit of $1,000 are matched by the Company where the donation is consistent with program guidelines.

Two paid days off per year per employee are provided as incentive to volunteer for community service. Numerous events are organized annually by employees to encourage volunteerism including working with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, City Parks, Food Bank, Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family and Easter Seals Camp Horizon.

Aspen has participated annually in the CIBC Run for the Cure since 2002.

A three year partnership has been forged with Kamp Kiwanis, whereby financial and physical commitments will be provided to improve the facilities of the camp. Aspen's 2013 and 2014 Team Retreats were held at Kamp Kiwanis and included various maintenance and facility upgrade projects.

Economic Initiatives

Aspen Properties is a partner of Action Calgary, a corporate partnership program that engages visionary Calgary business leaders to influence the city’s economy. Through support of Calgary’s 10 year economic development strategy and the initiatives of Calgary Economic Development, these business leaders help shape the city’s future growth and economic prosperity.

Recently, Calgary Economic Development launched a fully integrated marketing campaign designed to tell the broader story of Calgary. The Be Part of the Energy campaign raises awareness and promotes Calgary nationally and internationally as a leading global business centre and career destination and a place of growth, optimism and quality of life.

Protecting the Environment

Aspen is committed to providing for a safe workplace with respect for the environment.

The Company has an employee based Environmental Action Committee, which develops and monitors environmental best practises. Visit Tenant Resources for a copy of Aspen’s Best Practices Environmental Handbook.

2.0 million square feet of Aspen's portfolio are BOMA BESt (Building Environmental Standards) Certified, a national program that addresses industry standards for energy and environmental performance.

BOMA BESt Certification

BOMA BESt is the Canadian industry standard for commercial building sustainability certification, which is based on the internationally recognized and accepted Green Globes environmental assessment platform.

BOMA BESt is the only assessment and certification program of its kind for commercial buildings in Canada. It is a unique, voluntary, national program designed to assess environmental performance and management of existing buildings, and is offered by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) as a service to all commercial building owners and managers across Canada.

The program provides a consistent framework for owners and managers to critically assess six key areas of environmental performance and management.

Energy

Water

Waste Reduction and Site

Emissions and Effluents

Indoor Environment

Environmental Management System

Since its launch in 2005, BOMA BESt has seen tremendous uptake, with over 3,500 buildings representing nearly one billion square feet of Canadian commercial real estate, having applied for certification or recertification to date. The growing trend toward building assessment and certification through BOMA BESt speaks to the value the program has provided, and continues to provide, to the Canadian commercial real estate industry. Visit the BOMA BESt website for more detail.